Echo the thoughts, thanks to Paul, and terrific that Chief had some opportunities to get us back in the appropriate A2Y frame of mind. No one expresses the illogical emotions we Wings fans feel better than the best thing to come out of Saginaw since that country song that bore its name.

Hate talking off season already. Here are Detroit’s forward free agents or RFA, and the Official Red Wing plans for their future. No wait, these are just mine on a hangover cup of coffee after my step-son’s wedding and a bust first round loss to one of the NHL’s top 3 playoff teams of the current era. I think some of these chances of returning are actually zero but they could be kept on if Holland packages several forwards in a deal(s), so there is a small chance.

Legwand. 30%.

Franzen. not a FA, but the movie “From Here to Eternity” seems to apply. $4M/yr until 2020. His salary in 2009, $900K. Small candidate for compliance buyout. 80%.

Alfredsson. Shooting pain down his legs, says Babcock, worse than it’s been let on all year. If can be healthy, Detroit will welcome him back, he’s a class gentleman and not greedy, and lead the team in scoring. If he wants and Detroit agrees his health will allow it, $3.5M, 1 year 100%.

Samuelsson, $3M. 00%.

Bertuzzi, $2M, a guy who understood what getting to the tough areas meant when Franzen didn’t, won’t be offered unless there are trades of a lot of assets, 20%.

Cleary, $1.75, same conditions as Bertuzzi, 10%.

Sheahan $785K RFA, will be re-signed at $1.25M for 3 years, 100%.

Tatar $630K RFA, will be re-signed at $1.75M for 3 years, 100%.

Still on the hook for Tootoo for $1.9 through 2015.

Posted by
RWBill
from swimming in the ocean with narwhals. on 04/27/14 at 09:37 AM ET

Come on in, folks, the water’s warm.

First summer BBQ starts today.

Posted by
Hippy Dave
from Portland by way of Detroit on 04/27/14 at 01:09 PM ET

Been watching from afar. I’m damn impressed that the Wings got in the playoffs to begin with. Several kids impressed too. Moose did not impress - “and the puck rolls off his stick.” Great season all things considered.

Doctors are exploring whether Datsyuk needs removal of dead tissue. There is a 230 pound growth of dead tissue hanging around his neck weighting him down. If surgery doesn’t do it, a compliance buy out would.

Posted by
RWBill
from swimming in the ocean with narwhals. on 04/28/14 at 01:11 PM ET

Sorry, I wasn’t here for this game, 19.

I’ve got nothing but great hope and expectations for this team when the Prospects and Training Camps roll around in September. The Griffs who gave the Wings such a great lift when the team struggled with injuries have earned their calluses this playoff year. Nothing to be down about.

Should be an interesting summer with UFAs and RFAs coming up.

Posted by
SYF
from the C7.R, flyin' low and feelin' mean on 04/28/14 at 04:48 PM ET

About Abel to Yzerman

Welcome to Abel to Yzerman, a Red Wing blog since 1977. No other site on the internet has better-researched, fact-laden and better prepared discussions than A2Y. Re-phrase: we do little research, find facts and stats highly overrated and claim little to no preparation. There are 19 readers of A2Y. No more, no less. All of them, except maybe one, are juvenile in nature. Reminding them of that in the comment section will only encourage them to prove that. Your suggestions and critiques are welcome: wphoulihan@gmail.com